Which rule book applies on Germany's inland waters
1The lesson in plain words
BinSchStrO covers most federal inland waters, including Chapter 28 on the German Danube. The Rhine and Mosel have separate police regulations.
Built on CEVNI
The BinSchStrO (Binnenschifffahrtsstraßen-Ordnung) is Germany’s inland waterways order. Its common part follows CEVNI, the UNECE European inland code. Lights, signs, sound signals and most traffic rules therefore match the basics in Navigation: CEVNI. Here you learn what to check for a trip in Germany.
Regional chapters
After the common part come chapters for each waterway region: Elbe, Berlin and Brandenburg, Mecklenburg, the West German canals, the Oder and more. They set local speed limits, overtaking bans, lock rules and closures. Before a trip, read the chapter for your waters, and check ELWIS (the federal waterways information service) for current notices.
Which regulations
The Rhine follows the RheinSchPV (Rhine police regulations), and the Mosel follows the MoselSchPV (Mosel police regulations). On the German Danube between Kelheim and Jochenstein, read BinSchStrO and its Chapter 28.
Lake Constance and state waters
Lake Constance (Bodensee) has a separate order agreed by Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and its own licence, the Bodensee-Schifferpatent. The SBF Binnen (inland sport-boat licence) is not automatically valid there. Lakes and rivers that are not federal waterways, such as many Bavarian lakes, follow state law. Some ban engines altogether.
Alcohol
You may not act as skipper or steer at 0.5 ‰ blood alcohol or 0.25 mg/l breath alcohol, or above. The prohibition for THC, cannabis’s intoxicating substance, starts at 3.5 ng/ml in blood serum, except for correctly taken medicine prescribed for a specific illness. You must not act as skipper or steer while impaired. On the Oder and Neisse border waters, the skipper’s ban starts at 0.2 ‰. The skipper must prevent impaired crew from steering.
2Key data
- BinSchStrO
- Of 16.12.2011, in force 1.2.2012, last amended 14.10.2025
- Own police regulations
- Rhine (RheinSchPV), Mosel (MoselSchPV)
- Lake Constance
- Own order and own licence (Bodensee-Schifferpatent)
- Alcohol limit
- 0.5 ‰ / 0.25 mg/l; 0.2 ‰ on the Oder border waters
3Key points
- 1
The BinSchStrO follows CEVNI in its common part; local rules sit in regional chapters.
- 2
Rhine and Mosel: separate police rules. Danube, Kelheim–Jochenstein: BinSchStrO and Chapter 28.
- 3
Lake Constance has separate licence rules; check which licence your boat requires.
- 4
Non-federal lakes follow state law, and some ban engines.
- 5
Alcohol limit 0.5 ‰ or 0.25 mg/l; 0.2 ‰ for the skipper on the Oder border waters.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: The BinSchStrO applies on the Rhine like everywhere else inland.
Right: The Rhine has its own police regulations, the RheinSchPV. They are close to the BinSchStrO, but check the Rhine text for local rules.
Wrong: My SBF Binnen lets me drive a 40 hp boat on Lake Constance.
Right: Lake Constance has its own order and licence. You need the Bodensee-Schifferpatent there, or a licence it recognises.
5Practice case & exam keys
You plan a week from Berlin up the Havel to the Mecklenburg lakes, then a day trip on the Oder. Your crew asks which rules to read. What do you tell them?
Show the answer
Check which stretches are federal waterways. On federal sections, read the BinSchStrO common part and the relevant Berlin/Brandenburg, Mecklenburg and Oder regional chapters. For other lakes, check state rules. Check ELWIS for current notices on federal waterways. On the Oder border waters, the skipper’s alcohol limit is 0.2 ‰.
Exam keys
- BinSchStrO = CEVNI-based common part plus regional chapters with local rules.
- Rhine: RheinSchPV; Mosel: MoselSchPV; Danube, Kelheim–Jochenstein: BinSchStrO Chapter 28; Lake Constance: separate order and licence rules.
- § 1.02(7) (skipper) and § 1.03(4) (steering): 0.5 ‰ / 0.25 mg/l; THC ≥ 3.5 ng/ml in blood serum, except correctly taken medicine prescribed for a specific illness. You must not act as skipper or steer while impaired. Oder border waters: 0.2 ‰ for the skipper.
- Current notices and closures: ELWIS.
Finish this unit
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